Burnley 4 - 2 Crystal Palace

Palace blow two-goal lead

Updated: March 11, 2009, 10:00 PM UK

Championship play-off hopefuls Burnley edged a six-goal thriller at Turf Moor to move into the top six by beating Crystal Palace 4-2.

The Eagles, playing the first of three consecutive away league fixtures in the space of six days, led 2-0 at one stage only for the Clarets to triumph.

Shefki Kuqi and a Clark Carlisle own goal had handed the visitors a two-goal cushion.

But Carlisle, who had a hand in both goals the home side conceded, went some way towards making amends when he headed home just before the break.

And the Clarets, who have come from behind so often this season, pulled level from the penalty spot through Graham Alexander before Steven Thompson and Jay Rodriguez made it 4-2.

Defender Rhys Williams started for the Clarets after missing Sunday's defeat to Arsenal, while Christian Kalvenes kept his place in the side following an impressive showing.

Chris Eagles had to make do with a place on the bench with Wade Elliott instead preferred in midfield.

Nick Carle was left on the bench by Palace boss Neil Warnock, while Neil Danns retained his place in the starting XI.

With a chance to climb into the top six, Burnley boss Owen Coyle signalled his intent by playing three strikers.

Thompson sent Elliott through early on but his pass had just too much on it and Julian Speroni in the Palace goal cleared to safety.

There were no real attempts on either goal until a neat interchange of passes between Chris McCann and Alexander in the 14th minute resulted in Elliott stinging the palms of Speroni.

Eagles frontman Anthony Stokes fired a speculative efforts towards goal from 25 yards but his curling shot was tipped over the crossbar by Brian Jensen.

The away side took the lead in the 26th minute when Carlisle and Jensen failed to deal with a long ball by Clint Hill.

Jensen hesitated and Carlisle allowed the ball to run to Kuqi who made no mistake in finding the net.

And they doubled their lead in the 35th minute when a Paul Ifill drive was diverted into the net by the outstretched leg of Carlisle.

But the hosts pulled one back six minutes before the interval when Carlisle headed home.

After a volleyed effort from Elliott had come back off the crossbar, the Burnley defender reacted quickest to leave the score 2-1.

Burnley peppered the Palace box with a series of testing crosses, while Robbie Blake went close with a trademark free-kick and Williams volleyed just wide as the home side looked for a leveller.

The home crowd were incensed when, after a series of decisions went against them, Jose Fonte only escaped with yellow after hauling down Blake as he advanced towards goal.

But they pulled level in controversial circumstances when Hill was adjudged to have pushed Thompson in the box.

Referee Carl Boyeson waved the penalty claim away before the linesman flagged. The referee then pointed to the spot and Alexander made no mistake in smashing the penalty past Speroni.

And two minutes from time the comeback was complete with Eagles supplying a fine ball into Thompson.

The Clarets forward controlled the ball on his chest with his back to goal, manoeuvred away from two Palace defenders and smashed past Speroni.

And a fourth for the Clarets in injury time put the game beyond doubt, Rodriguez breaking through the Palace ranks before slotting home.